Thomas' talk, titled "Finding Your Activism and Turning the Political into the Personal," will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, in McCain Auditorium. The event will be open to the public and free to attend, but a ticket will be required. Read more about ticket information.

"Angie Thomas' debut novel 'The Hate U Give' has become a powerful cultural phenomenon across the nation, and the chance to hear her speak on our own campus will be one of the must-see events this school year," said Greg Eiselein, professor of English and director of K-State First, the university's first-year experience program.

Thomas' talk is co-sponsored by the K-State Book Network, or KSBN, the Diversity Programming Committee and the English department's student honorary society, Sigma Tau Delta, among others.

"'The Hate U Give' provides our campus an excellent opportunity to infuse diversity, inclusion and social justice into the curriculum to prepare our students for global citizenry," said Bryan Samuel, the university's chief diversity and inclusion officer.

Thomas' novel tells the story of a 16-year-old girl named Starr Carter. Starr has grown up in an urban, poverty-stricken neighborhood and attends a suburban prep school. After she witnesses a police officer shooting her unarmed friend, she must find a way to share the truth of her experience for her family, friends, community and herself.

"We are thrilled that Angie Thomas will be visiting Kansas State University in February," said Karin Westman, chair of the KSBN PR/Events Committee and department head of English. "Given the release of the film 'The Hate U Give' this fall and the debut of her second novel early next year, we are lucky that she can spend an evening with us."

Thomas is the inaugural winner of the Walter Dean Myers Grant 2015, awarded by We Need Diverse Books. Born, raised and still living in Jackson, Mississippi, she is a former teen rapper and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing from Belhaven University and an unofficial degree in hip-hop.

KSBN chose "The Hate U Give" as the university's common read for 2018 following campuswide conversations and review by the KSBN selection committee, comprised of 48 faculty, students and staff from colleges and units across the university's campuses.

"'The Hate U Give' has created a lot of opportunities for thoughtful discussion on our campus and I'm so grateful that it was selected," said Tara Coleman, chair of KSBN and associate professor at K-State Libraries. "This is the first time we've had an author visit in the spring, and it has opened up some wonderful opportunities for community involvement."

A limited number of tickets will be available for high school classes to attend the Angie Thomas lecture. These classes also can participate in campus visits while they are in Manhattan. High schools and instructors interested in this opportunity can receive more information by contacting Tara Coleman at ksbn@k-state.edu.

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A limited number of tickets will be available for high school classes to attend the Angie Thomas lecture. These classes also can participate in campus visits while they are in Manhattan. High schools and instructors interested in this opportunity can receive more information by contacting Tara Coleman at ksbn@k-state.edu.